Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-03-11
THE LENTEN SEASON.

l'ulChEp lIlpuHt'I
The Lenien season, which begins TO-
day, will probably not cause very
marked difference in religious habits be
yond a somewhat more general observ-
ance of certain religious forms. In the
progress of religion the rigors of Lent
have been very materially lessened in
deed, 1t is noticeable feature of the
evolution that moie of cheerfulness and
geniality are pervading religion year by
year, which is good sign. In sermon
preached at ST. Louis last Sunday by the
Rev. DIR. Holland, well known in tins city
for hi. eloquent scholarship, lie de7-loped
this thought 10 an extreme, perhaps, when
he said:
"But times have changed. Civilization
has cushioned US with cOnveniences and
made us soft. We are the children Of
| luxury. and must have luxurious creed,
Il church that assigns us no heavy tasks,
style OF preaching that invites US to
| lounge in our pews as in BARRIERS chairs,
Where sins are neatly trimmed like side
whiskers and then sprayed with cologne
water OF amiable sentiment. So religion
is used TO sanclify dudism OF spirit more
contemplate than any of the sins il fears
TO look in the lace and smite-a boudoIr
piety without moral Indignation, without
courage, afraid Of suffering, ready 10 faint
at the first touch Of a real cross"
True ii ia, however, that Lent has come
TO be socially rather than religiou-ly ex-
acting. Just as DIR. Holland said in
another part OF his sermon: mo rationsl
Christian believes there Is any religious
ire in absiaining from roast beef 10 feed
on pompinoi, or in eating egg instead Of
chicken, as if The chicken were holier
from being unmatched" Fasting has no
inherent virtue, nor can abstinence from
iood expiate sin. So We do not look for
much bodily fasting or spiritual muriif-
cation during The coming six weeks on
the part OF the votaries Of society, bu;
rather a voluntary abstinence from the
gayelies, which will he II the same value
TO them that spring medicines are TO chill
dren in purifying The system.
IL has been nm unusually gay winter.
What with balls, soirees, receptions, al
lernoon teas, PINK and yellow teas
Browning lissipniions, amateur theairi-
opera, and mnch ieasting, sorieiy il ready
for publication by Lenton medicine Tie
ioriy days OF rest me absolutely necessary
as tonic for the body, and nj the expira-
tion OF The term, wenried and j,hed h,i.
manity will come ont refreshed and ready
once more ior summer miiings aud the
round Of gayeiies for the next season
From this point Of view Lent il mn excel
lent thing tor the body aud, OF course
shonld he ior the soul. There will he u
lew who may find Themselves spiritually
refreshed, but for the great number Lent
means only semi seclusion aud absli-
nence from the alluremen,s oi the world,
he flesh, and the devil for limited per
iOd, with excellent results. So, lhongh we
may not expect 10 iind the sVcial cells
filled with fair reclu-es doing penance on
The bare ilOors, or mnrlifying the flesh
with horse-hair an.i sackcloth, or many
gilted youths rejecting on ash heaps
still Lent is very welcome ms an excellent
physical invigOrator, and II IN to he hoped
also that II may have proporlionate apir-
itual results. With all that Moody and
Murphy are doing on the outside Of the
church as religious Uhlans and with all
that In being done inside the pale, the
world, the flesh, and the devil are giving
them hard pull. Lent will send them
some temporary aid in so far M il direct,
the attention OF the yotaries TO higher and
more serious things. There can be nc
harm In forty days of refeclion--if they
will but reflect. In any event il is well
come change, ii il do no more than give
them iest. Were II not for Lent the pnr-
SUIT OF pleasure would soon grow monolo o.
nous.